Lakers choose Bronny James, LeBron's son, in second round of NBA Draft

He wants to make his own name and that isn’t easy when his game is basketball and his dad is one of the absolute greatest to ever play it.

But now Bronny James can try to do it as his father’s teammate.

The Lakers made Bronny James — the son of LeBron James — the 55th overall pick during Thursday’s second round of the NBA Draft at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in Manhattan.

LeBron and Bronny will become the first father and son to play in the NBA at the same time.

“I just want to, you know, have people know my name is Bronny James and not be identified as just LeBron James' son,” Bronny said when he met the media at the NBA combine in Chicago last month.

The athletic 6-2 combo guard, who was a one-and-done player at USC, wasn’t on hand for the announcement.

LeBron had said he wanted to play with his son one day.

Now the 39-year-old superstar has to get his own contract situation worked out to finalize it. He has a $51.4 million player option for next season that requires an opt-out decision this week. He could opt out and still sign a new multiyear deal with Los Angeles.

Rich Paul is the agent for both father and son.

Former Golden State GM Bob Myers was working as a studio analyst on the ESPN telecast of the second round and indicated the agent was steering the process for the younger James.

“Rich Paul is calling teams: Don’t take Bronny James,” Myers said. “He’s telling them do not take him. … You take him, he’s going to Australia. So he has a plan and he has a place.”

After becoming a McDonald’s All-American as a senior at Sierra Canyon High in California, Bronny’s numbers at USC as a freshman last season didn’t exactly scream these words: Draft me now.

He started just six of 25 games and averaged 19.6 minutes, 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He hit only 36.6% of his shots overall and 26.7% from beyond the arc.

But he also got a late start at practice for the season after experiencing cardiac arrest during a practice session last July.

And he did have some impressive moments at the combine with a second-place showing in a three-point drill and a 40.5-inch max standing vertical leap.

At this point, he’s more of a developmental player.

“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and of course, you know, get to the NBA, which is everyone's end goal that is here,” Bronny said at the combine. “And, you know, I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course, he's brought it up a couple times.”

The second round was marked by a number of trades.

The first four picks went like this:

Toronto used the 31st selection on Jonathan Mogbo, a forward out of the University of San Francisco, his fourth college.

Duke forward-center Kyle Filipowski was the next to go off the board. Utah selected the consensus second team All-American.

Milwaukee chose G League Ignite forward Tyler Smith at No. 33.

The Knicks then made a deal with Portland to move in at No. 34. They selected Tyler Kolek. The Marquette point guard was the nation’s leader at 7.7 assists per game as a senior.

Kolek’s teammate, forward Oso Ighodaro, went 40th after Phoenix made a deal with the Knicks for the pick.

“Tyler deserves the world,” Ighodaro said. “I’m so excited that we both made it. This is our dream since we were kids. The Marquette family is so proud of us, and I’m so proud of him.”

Storm’s Jenkins joining Pistons

Daniss Jenkins from St. John’s reportedly signed a two-way contract with Detroit Thursday evening. The 6-3 guard was an all-Big East second-team selection this season after averaging 14.9 points, 5.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds for the Red Storm.

Charlotte brings on Soriano

Joel Soriano of St. John’s signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night. The 6-11 center was the Red Storm’s team captain this past season and averaged 13.8 points and 9.5 rebounds. He is expected to compete for the Hornets in the NBA Summer League with a chance to be offered a two-way contract.